State Partnership Program

Established in 2003, the goal of the State Partnership Program is to establish broad reaching, friendly ties between partner states and partner countries at all levels of society utilizing the National Guard as the catalyzing force and means of support.

September 2016 marked the 25th anniversary of Tajikistan’s independence, and the partnership between the Virginia National Guard and Tajikistan is in its 14th year. As part of the SPP, the Virginia National Guard regularly conducts information exchanges on a variety of subjects related to security and emergency response operations. The Guard also facilitates trips from Tajikistani officials to the United States.

Officers from the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense who specialize in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives response operations conducted an information exchange with personnel for the Virginia National Guard’s 34th Civil Support Team Feb. 21-22, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The exchange was part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program that links states and partner nations in support of mutual interests, and their visit also included a tour of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and meeting with officials from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

SPP News

U.S. National Guard Soldiers from Virginia work through medical training lanes alongside their counterparts from the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense during the exercise “Regional Cooperation 22” Aug. 14, 2022, at a training site near Dushanbe, Tajikistan. RC 22 is an annual, multi-national U.S. Central Command-sponsored exercise conducted by U.S. forces in partnership with Central and South Asia nations. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)
VNG Soldiers participate in Regional Cooperation 22 in Tajikistan
Aug. 29, 2022
Approximately 300 troops from the United States, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Pakistan came together for the exercise “Regional Cooperation 22,” held Aug. 6-18, 2022, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The annual exercise, sponsored by U.S. Central Command and primarily conducted by National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, focused on enhancing multinational stability operations and promoting cooperation on counter-terrorism and joint combined capabilities among the U.S. and Central and South Asia, or CASA, nations.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers participate in a counter-improvised explosive devices exchange with soldiers and representatives from the Republic of Tajikistan in July 2022.
VNG engineers, medics conduct exchanges in Tajikistan
Aug. 9, 2022
Virginia National Guard Soldiers recently completed a counter-improvised explosive devices exchange and a medical infantry tactics exchange with soldiers and representatives from the Republic of Tajikistan in June and July 2022. 
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade conduct a mountain warfare exchange and an advanced tactical planning exchange with soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan May 16 - 20, 2022, in Romit, Tajikistan.
VNG Soldiers conduct mountain warfare, tactical planning exchanges in Tajikistan
June 14, 2022
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade conducted a mountain warfare exchange and an advanced tactical planning exchange with soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan May 16 - 20, 2022, in Romit, Tajikistan. 
Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct an infantry tactics exchange and countering unmanned air systems exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 7-11, 2022, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. They were conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.
VNG conducts infantry tactics, unmanned air system exchanges in Tajikistan
March 14, 2022
Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted an infantry tactics exchange and countering unmanned air systems exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 7-11, 2022, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conduct a medical exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan Dec. 6-10, 2021, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.
Virginia National Guard Members conduct medical exchange in Tajikistan
Jan. 5, 2022
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted a medical exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan Dec. 6-10, 2021, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.